Extensible top table



Nov. 24, 1936. D. F. FERNEY EXTENSIBLE TOP TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 00/7/26/ i iii/W67 6% ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1936. FERNEY2,061,622

EXTENSIBLE TOP TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1936 uNrrEo stares PATENT @FFEQE 17 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved occasional table having an extensible topassociated therewith by means of which the area can be doubled to serveas a bridge, tea, cocktail, or other service table.

Second, to provide means in a table of the foregoing character forpositively elevating the top sections and holding them in elevatedposition.

Third, to provide resilient lost motion means in the operating handleacting to urge the handle upwardly to concealed inoperative position andfacilitating the manipulation thereof.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an occasional table embodying featuresof my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on a linecorresponding to line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the table, the legs thereof being shownin section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on a line correspondingto line i4 of Figs. 1 and 3 and showing the table top sections inelevated position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on a line correspondingto line 5--5 of Figs. 3 and l, the table top sections being shown inextended or open position.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the table the top sections.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the parts in one corner ofthe top compartment without the top sections. 7

Referring to the drawings, I is an occasional table having legs 2 and aframe or bed with an upwardly opening compartment 3. A pair of topsections 4 and 5 hinged together at B are adapted to be received by thetop compartment when folded in overlapping relation as shown by Figs. 1and 2. The top section 4 has a peripheral flange 7 engageable with theupper edge of the side and end walls or frame pieces 8 and 9 of the topto limit the downward movement of the sections within the compartmentand to provide an attractive finish or appearance.

Within the ends of the top compartment 3, I mount transverse brackets itof substantially U shape, the upright arms I! of the brackets beingprovided with vertical slots l2. Disposed bewithout tween the uprightarms H are way members l3 having end keys or tongues l4 coacting withthe slots I! to guide and limit the vertical movement of the way membersrelative to the brackets. Under the top section 5, I secure slides 55for coaction with the way members l3, the latter having inturned flangesl6 overlapping recesses E! in the slides to hold the parts in assembledrelation. Thus, the table top sections may be slid transversely of thetop compartment when in elevated position, as shown by Fig. 4. When soelevated, the top section 4 may be swung to inverted position toprovidean enlarged top as shown by Fig. 5.

To positively elevate the top sections out of the top compartment andfor positively supporting them in elevated position, I provide spacedcams l8 pivotally connected to the brackets it] under the way members13, the cams being pivoted at E8! between the upright arms 19 ofU-shaped clips 20 the webs of which are arranged under and. secured tothe webs of the brackets it as shown. The webs of the clips and bracketsare preferably welded together at 21! the brackets being secured to thebottom 22 of the top compartment by means of bolts 23.

The cams l8 associated with each bracket are connected by means of links24 having lateral pins 25 receiving the end slots 26 of the crank arms21 fixed to a rockshaft 28 pivotally mounted under the bottom 22 of thetop compartment by means of bearing brackets 29. The rockshaft eX- tendslongitudinally of the table and substantially centrally thereof and isprovided with a central operating handle 30. For the passage of thecranks 21, the brackets it] and compartment bottom 22' are provided withtransverse slots 3! and 32.

With the parts arranged in this manner, the operating handle so may bemanipulated to positively elevate the top sections 6 and 5. When inactuated position, the cams iii are adapted to form uprights or postsfor positively supporting the top sections in elevated position, asshown by Figs. 3 and 5. With the cams in actuated upright position, theends 33 of thelinks 3 3 engage the upright arms H at one end of thebrackets in to limit further movement of the parts. The operating handle30 is swung downwardly until the ends 33 engage the arms II to completethe elevating manipulation. It will be noted that in actuated positionthe pivots I82 swing past the vertical planes of the pivots 88! so thatthere is no tendency for the supports to collapse, and in fact the loadon the top tends to prevent collapsing or to make it more difficult.

The collapsed position of the operating handle Si] is against the bottom22 of the top compartment as shown by Fig. 2. The handle is urged tosuch position by a compression spring 3% in an arm 35 fixed to therockshaft 28, the inner end of the handle being pivoted to the arm 35 at36. This arrangement provides a lost motion connection so that thehandle may be easily grasped and moved to the position indicated by thedotted line 3? of Fig. 2 before it is necessary to apply any substantialforce thereto for lifting the top. This arrangement prevents injury tothe fingers and is very desirable and convenient in connection with myimprovements and adds greatly to the convenience and ease of operation.

As shown by Fig. 6, the top compartment 3 is provided with cells 38 fordecks of cards and scoring implements (neither of which is illustrated)for card games. These cells are uncovered when the top sections areinitially moved to one side of the top compartment before turning thesection l upside down.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the top sections may be readily andpositively lifted out of the top compartment of the table bymanipulating the operating handle. With the top sections in suchposition, they are positively supported and will carry as much weight asin collapsed position. This is a very desirable feature inasmuch as itincreases the usefulness of the table. The resilient lost motion meansprovided in the operating handle urges the latter to concealed positionand facilitates the grasping of the handle for lifting the top section.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myimprovements as may be desired.

Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of myinvention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. My invention is therefore not to be restricted except in sofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof, apair of top sections connected by a hinge and adapted to be received bysaid top compartment when folded in overlapping relation, transversebrackets of substantially U shape mounted in the ends of saidcompartment and having vertical slots in the upright arms thereof, waymembers having end keys coacting with said slots, slides mounted underone of said top sections and coacting with said way members, and meansfor positively elevating said top sections out of said top compartmentand supporting them in elevated position, comprising spaced camspivotally connected to said brackets below said way members, linksconnecting the cams associated with each bracket, a rockshaft mounted onthe bottom of said compartment and having a central operating handle,and cranks fixed to said rockshaft and having pin and slot connectionsto said links, the operating handle being provided with resilient lostmotion means acting to urge the handle upwardly into engagement with thebottom of said compartment.

2. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof,top sections adapted to be received by said top compartment when foldedin overlapping relation, transverse brackets of substantially U shapemounted in the ends of said compartment and having vertical slots in theupright arms thereof, way members having end keys coacting with saidslots, slides mounted under one of said top sections and coacting withsaid way members, and means for positively elevating said top sectionsout of said top compartment and supporting them in elevated position,comprising spaced cams pivotally connected to said brackets below saidway members, links connecting the cams associated with each bracket, arockshaft mounted on the bottom of said compartment and having anoperating handle, and cranks fixed to said rockshaft and havingconnections to said links, the operating handle being provided withresilient lost motion means acting to urge the handle upwardly intoengagement with the bottom of said compartment.

3. A table having an upwardly opening compart ment in the top thereof,top sections adapted to be 1 a received by said top compartment whenfolded in. overlapping relation, transverse brackets of sub-. stantiallyU shape mounted in the ends of said compartment and having verticalslots in the up,- right arms thereof, way members having end keyscoacting with said slots, slides mounted under one of said top sectionsand coacting with said Way members, and means for positively elevatingsaid top sections out of said top compartment;

and supporting them in elevated position, comprising spaced camspivotally connected to said brackets below said way members, linksconnecting the cams associated with each bracket, a, rockshait mountedon the bottom. of said com-.

partment and having an operating handle, and cranks fixed to saidrockshaft and having connections to said links.

4. A table having an upwardly opening compart-- ment in the top thereof,hinged top sections adapted to be received by said top compartment whenfolded in overlapping relation, transverse way members mounted forvertical movement in the ends of said compartment, slides mountedundersaid top sections and coacting with said way members, and means forpositively elevating said topsections out of said top compartment andsup.-

porting them in elevated position, comprising spaced cams pivoted undersaid way members, links connecting the cams associated with each.

ment in the top thereof, hinged top sections adapted to be received bysaid top compartment when folded in overlapping relation, transverse waymembers mounted for vertical movement in the ends of said compartment,slides mounted under said top sections and coacting With said waymembers, and means for positively elevating said top sections out ofsaid top compartment and supporting them in elevated position,comprising spaced cams pivoted under said way members, links connectingthe cams associated with each bracket, a rockshaft mounted below saidcompartment and having an operating handle, cranks fixed to saidrockshaft and connected to said links, and resilient lost motion meansacting to urge the handle upwardly into engagement with the bottom ofsaid compartment.

6. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof,hinged top sections adapted to be received by said top compartment whenfolded in overlapping relation, and means for positively elevating saidtop sections out of said top compartment and supporting them in elevatedposition, comprising spaced cams pivoted thereunder, links connectingthe cams associated with each bracket, a rockshaft mounted below saidcompartment and having an operating handle, cranks fixed to saidrockshaft and connected to said links, and resilient lost motion meansacting to urge the handle upwardly into engagement with the bottom ofsaid compartment.

'7. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof,hinged top sections adapted tobe received by said top compartment whenfolded in overlapping relation, and means for positively elevating saidtop sections out of said top compartment and supporting them in,elevated position, comprising spaced cams pivoted thereunder, linksconnecting the cams associated with each bracket, a rockshaft mountedbelow said compartment and having an operating handle, and cranks fixedto said rockshaft and connected to said links. 7

8. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof,atop section adapted to be received by said top compartment, transversebrackets of substantially U shape mounted in the ends of saidcompartment and having vertical slots in the upright arms thereof, waymembers having end keys coacting with said slots, slides mounted undersaid top section and coacting with said Way members, and means forpositively elevating said top section out of said top compartment andsupporting it in elevated position, comprising spaced cams pivotallyconnected to said brackets under said way members, links connecting thecams, a rockshaft mounted on the bottom of said compartment, cranksfixed to said rockshaft and connected to said links, an operating handleprovided with a lost motion connection to said rockshaft, and resilientmeans acting to urge the handle upwardly into engagement with the bottomof said compartment when said top section is received within saidcompartment, the lost motion connection permitting the handle to begrasped before the application of force for elevating the top section.

9. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof, atop section adapted to be received by said top compartment, and meansfor positively elevating said top section out of said top compartmentand supporting it in elevated position, comprising spaced cams, linksconnecting the cams, a rockshaft mounted on the bottom of saidcompartment, cranks fixed to said rockshaft and connected to said links,an operating handle provided with a lost motion connection to saidrockshaft, and resilient means acting to urge the handle upwardly intoengagement with the bottom of said compartment when said top section isreceived within said compartment,

the lost motion connection permitting the handle to be grasped beforethe application of force for elevating the top section.

10. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof, atop section adapted to be received by said top compartment, and meansfor positively elevating said top section out of said top compartmentand supporting it in elevated position, comprising spaced cams, linksconnecting the cams, a rockshaft mounted on the bottom of saidcompartment, cranks fixed to said rockshaft and connected to said links,and operating handle provided with a lost motion connection to saidrockshaft.

11. A table having an upwardly opening compartment in the top thereof, atop section adapted to be received by said top compartment, and meansfor positively elevating said top section out of said top compartmentand supporting it in elevated position, comprising spaced cams, meanspivoting said cams to said table for movement in a vertical plane, linksconnecting the cams, a rockshaft mounted on the bottom of saidcompartment, cranks fixed to said rockshaft and connected to said links,and means limiting the pivotal movement of said cams, said cams inelevated position standing on one side of a vertical line through theirpivot points, whereby loads on the table oppose collapse of the cams.

12. A table having a top compartment, a top member adapted for verticalmovement into and out of said compartment, cam means disposed in saidcompartment and under said top member for elevating the same, andmanually controlled means for actuating said cam means, the cam meansconstituting supports for said top member in elevated position, saidmanually controlled means including a handle disposed under the bottomof said compartment, the handle being urged into engagement with saidbottom in normal posi-' tion and having a certain amount of initial freemovement relative thereto. a

13. A table'having a top compartment, a top member adapted for verticalmovement into and out of said compartment, cam means disposed in saidcompartment and under said top member for elevating the same, manuallycontrolled means for actuating said cam means, and a lost motionconnection between the cam means and said manually controlled meanswhereby an initial free movement of the manually controlled means isafforded prior to actuation of the cam means by the manually controlledmeans, the cam means constituting sup-ports for said top member inelevated position.

, 14:. A table having a top compartment, a top member adapted forvertical movement into and out of said compartment, cam means forelevating the top member, means for actuating said cam means, and a lostmotion connection between the cam means and said manually controlledmeans whereby an initial free movement of the manually controlled meansis afforded prior to actuation of the cam means by the manuallycontrolled means, the cam means constituting self-locking supports forsaid top member in elevated position.

15. A table having a top compartment, a top member adapted for verticalmovement into and out of said compartment, means for elevating the topmember, means for actuating said elevating means, and a lost motionconnection between the elevating means and the actuating means wherebyan initial free movement of the actuating means is afforded prior toactuation of the elevating means by the actuating means.

16. A table having a top compartment, a top comprising hinged sectionsadapted to collapse into said compartment when folded, the section whichis at the bottom when the sections are folded having slides, coactingslide ways mounted for vertical movement within said compartment, ateach end thereof, cam means engaging said slideways for raising andsupporting them in raised position, and a common operating means forsaid cam means disposed below said compartment and comprising arockshaft provided with a hand piece and having connection at its endsto said cam means for positively operating the same.

17. A table having a top compartment, a top comprising hinged sectionsadapted to collapse into said compartment when folded, the section Whichis at the bottom when the sections are folded having slides, coactingslide ways mounted for vertical movement within said compartment, meansfor raising and supporting said slide ways in raised position comprisingpivoted members coacting with said slide ways and arranged so that whenin erected position a downward thrust on the table top acts to preventcollapsing thereof, and a common operating means for said first namedmeans disposed below the compartment and positively connected with saidmeans for raising and supporting said slide ways in raised position.

DANIEL F. FERNEY.

